Also known as: The Magpies
Ground: St James’ Park
Capacity: 52,405
Year Formed: 1892
Website: www.nufc.co.uk
FootyMad Site: www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk
Manager: Rafael Benitez (since March 2016) P: 10 W: 3 D: 4 L: 3
Odds to win the League: 7/4. Odds for Promotion: 8/13 Top Six Finish: 1/5 Odds for Relegation: 250/1 (as of 2nd August)
2015-2016:
League (Premier League): W: 9 D: 10 L: 19 F: 44 A: 65 GD: -21 Points: 37
Home Record: W: 7 D: 7 L: 5 F: 32 A: 24
Away Record: W: 2 D: 3 L: 14 F: 12 A: 41
Pos: 18th.
Top Scorer: Georginio Wijnaldum (11)
Worst Discipline: Aleksandar Mitrovic (4 yellows, 2 reds)
FA Cup: Third Round (lost 1-0 to Watford)
League Cup: Third Round (lost 1-0 to Sheffield Wednesday)
Last Five League Positions: 18th (Premier League), 15th (Premier League), 10th (Premier League), 16th (Premier League), 5th (Premier League)
Head To Head v Barnsley: W: 18 D: 12 L: 11
Last season v Barnsley: N/A
Last meetings with Barnsley: 6/3/10 Newcastle (Peter Lovenkrands 44 pen, 48, Danny Guthrie 50, 69, Jonas Gutierrez 60, Kevin Nolan 71) 6-1 Barnsley (Daniel Bogdanovic 83) 12/12/09 Barnsley (Emil Halfredsson 52, Bobby Hassell 87) 2-2 Newcastle (Kevin Nolan 6, Marlon Harewood 78)
Last Five Results v Barnsley: won 6-1, drew 2-2, won 2-0, won 1-0, won 2-1.
Meet in 2016-2017 on: Tuesday 18th October at Oakwell & Sunday 7th May at St James’ Park.
View From The Terrace
Name and/or website: Mark Jensen The Mag
Club: Newcastle United
Level of Interest:( I.e Now and then, Every other week, season ticket holder etc) Season ticket
How has pre-season gone for you so far? With three wins and a draw, 14 goals and only two conceded, not bad. Maybe would like to see our main strikers (Galye and Mitrovic) scoring a few more.
Are you pleased with the signings your club has made? Yes. However, a feeling that more are needed. A lot of (expensive!) dead wood has needed to be cleared out and that process still ongoing, eight senior players/chancers leaving and six recruited - would like a left-back, striker and goalscoring winger/midfielder.
What realistically are you aiming for this season? Promotion is the only show in toon.
Which player has past his sell by date? A lot of competition but Moussa Sissoko has to leave and as everybody knows, he is desperate to. Flatter to deceive and whilst he would/should be good in Championship he is too much of a distraction and needs shifting ASAP.
Have you got the right manager in charge? Best Manager in a long long time and biggest shame it has taken drop into Championship to convince Ashley to employ a proper manager, instead of yes men like McClaren, Carver and Pardew.
What advice would you give him? After winning La Liga and the Champions League I'm not sure I'm qualified...but what I would suggest is putting the emphasis on attack rather than defence this coming season.
Who do you see as your key player? It might even be somebody yet to arrive but certainly new signings Ritchie and Gayle need to perform, with Ritchie maybe the main man considering how devastating he was for Bournemouth in terms of both goals and assists in the Championship.
Who would you most like to beat this season? Can't really think of a stand out one but for old times sakes probably Leeds United, always big rivalry back in 70s and 80s, plus our closest thing to a derby this season.
Where will you finish? Top two, probably Champions. WIth biggest wage bill, fan backing and transfer spend, there really is no excuse if we don't. Not that see it as guaranteed but can also see significant money spent in January to back up the challenge.
How do you rate Barnsley's chances next season and where do you think they will finish? Bit hard to judge, what is clear though is that from previous seasons the Championship is usually very open and throws up surprises constantly. Would guess lower mid-table.